1 00:00:01,880 --> 00:00:06,760 Speaker 1: All right. It was chilly on a brisk March morning 2 00:00:06,920 --> 00:00:11,160 Speaker 1: in Los Angeles, just ten days before California would go 3 00:00:11,240 --> 00:00:15,320 Speaker 1: on lockdown. My producer Antonia Seehilo, and I did something 4 00:00:15,840 --> 00:00:19,079 Speaker 1: that we had no idea would soon be a major 5 00:00:19,200 --> 00:00:19,800 Speaker 1: health threat. 6 00:00:20,600 --> 00:00:23,439 Speaker 2: We drove up to someone's home. No, it's ka. I 7 00:00:23,480 --> 00:00:25,720 Speaker 2: mean that house is like insane. 8 00:00:25,640 --> 00:00:28,400 Speaker 3: So just it looks like a haunted house. It looks 9 00:00:28,400 --> 00:00:30,440 Speaker 3: like something out of like an old Victorian movie. There's 10 00:00:30,480 --> 00:00:33,360 Speaker 3: like a spiral and like peaked. 11 00:00:34,360 --> 00:00:37,199 Speaker 2: Multiple peaks. But whatever it is, you always see them 12 00:00:37,200 --> 00:00:38,120 Speaker 2: in a horror movie. 13 00:00:39,040 --> 00:00:40,720 Speaker 3: I mean, if I had to guess a place that 14 00:00:40,800 --> 00:00:43,680 Speaker 3: looked like what I thought cavan Dee's house would look like, 15 00:00:44,320 --> 00:00:44,960 Speaker 3: it's this. 16 00:00:44,960 --> 00:00:52,960 Speaker 1: This is definitely it from Futuro Media. It's Latino USA. 17 00:00:53,080 --> 00:01:05,120 Speaker 1: I'm Maria ino Josa, covered in tattoos and always sporting 18 00:01:05,240 --> 00:01:08,840 Speaker 1: fully black outfits. Cat von Dee is the matriarch of 19 00:01:08,880 --> 00:01:15,320 Speaker 1: America's first goth family. Born Katherine von Druckenberg, Cat von 20 00:01:15,400 --> 00:01:18,440 Speaker 1: Dee first reached a wide audience when she was twenty 21 00:01:18,440 --> 00:01:21,800 Speaker 1: three years old, when she was cast on TLC's reality 22 00:01:21,920 --> 00:01:23,440 Speaker 1: show Miami Inc. 23 00:01:23,800 --> 00:01:26,680 Speaker 2: In the mid odds twenty seconds Ready start, Oh. 24 00:01:27,240 --> 00:01:30,520 Speaker 1: The show captured the goings ons at a tattoo shop 25 00:01:30,560 --> 00:01:37,200 Speaker 1: in Miami Beach Conya. Kat was the first female cast 26 00:01:37,240 --> 00:01:41,640 Speaker 1: member and tattoo artist, and she immediately became a fan favorite. 27 00:01:41,920 --> 00:01:44,680 Speaker 4: About the tattoot that captain for me, she's amazing that 28 00:01:44,800 --> 00:01:47,199 Speaker 4: everything she does, whether it's black or gray or color, 29 00:01:47,440 --> 00:01:49,920 Speaker 4: and she just keeps raising the bar every day. 30 00:01:50,440 --> 00:01:53,280 Speaker 1: Her tattoos would be hyper realistic and she was good 31 00:01:53,280 --> 00:01:56,480 Speaker 1: at drawing out her client's personal stories. She became the 32 00:01:56,520 --> 00:02:00,880 Speaker 1: most famous female tattoo artist in the world. This led 33 00:02:00,880 --> 00:02:04,280 Speaker 1: to her getting her own spinoff show, La Inc. Which 34 00:02:04,360 --> 00:02:06,840 Speaker 1: was set in her own tattoo shop in West Hollywood. 35 00:02:07,360 --> 00:02:09,560 Speaker 5: Because I'm the Bajas Okay, and. 36 00:02:09,919 --> 00:02:12,880 Speaker 1: The show ended in twenty eleven. Since then, Kat has 37 00:02:12,960 --> 00:02:16,200 Speaker 1: launched her own shoeline and her own makeup line, and 38 00:02:16,320 --> 00:02:19,959 Speaker 1: right now she's working on recording her first ever album while. 39 00:02:19,720 --> 00:02:21,280 Speaker 2: In quarantine to. 40 00:02:23,760 --> 00:02:24,320 Speaker 6: See the. 41 00:02:26,280 --> 00:02:30,840 Speaker 1: Kat's artistry is inextricable from her lifestyle. She lives the 42 00:02:30,880 --> 00:02:35,800 Speaker 1: goth fantasy that she sells and in the same way 43 00:02:35,880 --> 00:02:39,239 Speaker 1: that people would tune into the black horror comedy sitcom 44 00:02:39,440 --> 00:02:42,400 Speaker 1: The Adams Family in the nineteen sixties for a bit 45 00:02:42,400 --> 00:02:43,640 Speaker 1: of escapism. 46 00:02:43,919 --> 00:02:45,760 Speaker 2: Nice place you've got here Wednesday. 47 00:02:46,639 --> 00:02:47,960 Speaker 5: We like it. 48 00:02:47,360 --> 00:02:53,440 Speaker 1: It's so nice and li loomy. Today people visit Cat 49 00:02:53,440 --> 00:02:57,120 Speaker 1: Bondie's Instagram to see pictures and videos of her living 50 00:02:57,160 --> 00:02:59,200 Speaker 1: her real life black horror. 51 00:02:58,880 --> 00:03:00,960 Speaker 2: Sitcom even on each side. 52 00:03:01,160 --> 00:03:04,560 Speaker 1: Yeah, Kat's more than seven million followers watch her getting 53 00:03:04,600 --> 00:03:08,000 Speaker 1: a haircut in her red lacquered bathroom that looks like 54 00:03:08,040 --> 00:03:12,600 Speaker 1: a shrine to Satan. They can see Kat's husband Cholo 55 00:03:12,760 --> 00:03:16,880 Speaker 1: goth icon prayers, making their son giggle as he kisses 56 00:03:16,919 --> 00:03:27,560 Speaker 1: his belly. While the outside of Kat's home is impressive, 57 00:03:27,919 --> 00:03:31,880 Speaker 1: the inside is basically a museum to goth and religious iconography. 58 00:03:32,240 --> 00:03:34,480 Speaker 1: And so I'd be lying if I said I wasn't 59 00:03:34,600 --> 00:03:35,720 Speaker 1: very excited to be there. 60 00:03:36,120 --> 00:03:38,200 Speaker 6: All right, So what room are Well, just that one 61 00:03:38,200 --> 00:03:39,080 Speaker 6: of the guest rooms. 62 00:03:39,200 --> 00:03:42,920 Speaker 1: The room has a huge wooden fireplace ornately carved. 63 00:03:43,080 --> 00:03:44,840 Speaker 2: Well, what's on top of the fireplace? 64 00:03:44,840 --> 00:03:47,200 Speaker 6: Those are all those are not just nuns. I love 65 00:03:47,280 --> 00:03:48,320 Speaker 6: like different saints. 66 00:03:48,360 --> 00:03:52,000 Speaker 5: I've always just been fascinated by saints, just because you know, 67 00:03:52,040 --> 00:03:56,480 Speaker 5: there's so much rich history in the mysticism of saints. 68 00:03:56,480 --> 00:03:59,000 Speaker 5: But yeah, I think a lot of people think I'm Catholic, 69 00:03:59,000 --> 00:04:00,280 Speaker 5: but I don't identify. 70 00:04:00,240 --> 00:04:02,440 Speaker 6: Like at all. I just appreciate a lot of the artwork. 71 00:04:02,600 --> 00:04:04,720 Speaker 5: And then you know, there is something beautiful to be 72 00:04:04,720 --> 00:04:07,960 Speaker 5: said about nuns because it doesn't matter what you're doing 73 00:04:08,080 --> 00:04:11,720 Speaker 5: in life, but if you one hundred and ten thousand 74 00:04:11,800 --> 00:04:14,760 Speaker 5: percent dedicate yourself to something, I applaud you. 75 00:04:15,680 --> 00:04:17,680 Speaker 1: And the world wind Tour began. 76 00:04:17,920 --> 00:04:20,000 Speaker 5: So what I did is I took like every room 77 00:04:20,120 --> 00:04:23,479 Speaker 5: and kind of paid homage to my favorite eras or 78 00:04:23,720 --> 00:04:25,440 Speaker 5: styles of the Victorian era. 79 00:04:26,080 --> 00:04:29,039 Speaker 6: Powder blue room that's more in the French style. And 80 00:04:29,120 --> 00:04:32,040 Speaker 6: then this is this is like the black and old bathroom, 81 00:04:32,080 --> 00:04:33,200 Speaker 6: got black toilet paper. 82 00:04:35,080 --> 00:04:35,240 Speaker 5: You know. 83 00:04:37,400 --> 00:04:38,960 Speaker 6: This is a master bedroom. 84 00:04:39,040 --> 00:04:41,520 Speaker 5: So we had like an artist all like the murals 85 00:04:41,520 --> 00:04:43,480 Speaker 5: of like it's all nocturnal animals. 86 00:04:43,520 --> 00:04:45,440 Speaker 6: So there's like a little owl and then there's like. 87 00:04:45,440 --> 00:04:49,360 Speaker 5: Moths, and then you know, bats and stuff. And then 88 00:04:49,360 --> 00:04:51,880 Speaker 5: this is the red bathroom. Oh wow. 89 00:04:53,360 --> 00:04:55,640 Speaker 1: And then finally we got to the room I was 90 00:04:55,839 --> 00:04:57,200 Speaker 1: most looking forward to. 91 00:04:58,200 --> 00:05:01,960 Speaker 5: This is a closet, a mess, but it's all organized 92 00:05:02,760 --> 00:05:03,520 Speaker 5: my favorite color. 93 00:05:03,680 --> 00:05:07,520 Speaker 1: Yeah, everything is black. 94 00:05:08,080 --> 00:05:09,320 Speaker 6: And then there's the shoe closet. 95 00:05:09,400 --> 00:05:12,760 Speaker 2: Oh dude, oh my god, my god. 96 00:05:15,320 --> 00:05:19,760 Speaker 1: In the house, we saw crystal orbs handmade Victorian lampshades, 97 00:05:20,200 --> 00:05:27,479 Speaker 1: stained glass windows, a goth dream house. Apart from giving 98 00:05:27,560 --> 00:05:29,920 Speaker 1: us the tour, cat sat down with me to talk 99 00:05:29,960 --> 00:05:34,360 Speaker 1: about her Mexican and Argentine roots, falling in love with tattoos, 100 00:05:34,960 --> 00:05:37,720 Speaker 1: and how she feels even though so much of her 101 00:05:37,760 --> 00:05:41,520 Speaker 1: life is at people's fingertips, that there continues to be 102 00:05:41,680 --> 00:05:43,240 Speaker 1: misconceptions about her. 103 00:05:44,440 --> 00:05:46,320 Speaker 2: Kat Vondie, Welcome to Latino, USA. 104 00:05:46,920 --> 00:05:48,280 Speaker 6: Thank you so much for having me. 105 00:05:49,200 --> 00:05:50,520 Speaker 2: How do you identify actually what? 106 00:05:50,560 --> 00:05:53,240 Speaker 5: I just identify Latina because I would say I'm a 107 00:05:53,279 --> 00:05:55,719 Speaker 5: mixed of Latina, like because I think, you know, everybody 108 00:05:55,720 --> 00:05:59,560 Speaker 5: comes in obviously different shapes, forms, shades, and you know, 109 00:05:59,880 --> 00:06:02,760 Speaker 5: it's it's interesting because I was born in Mexico, although 110 00:06:02,760 --> 00:06:06,600 Speaker 5: my parents are from Argentina, so even my Spanish itself, 111 00:06:06,680 --> 00:06:08,520 Speaker 5: Like I feel like I don't really have a sense 112 00:06:08,520 --> 00:06:11,120 Speaker 5: of belonging when I go to either country because they're like, 113 00:06:12,080 --> 00:06:14,599 Speaker 5: you sound funny. You know, I can't win anywhere, you know, 114 00:06:14,640 --> 00:06:16,039 Speaker 5: But I kind of like that. I kind of like 115 00:06:16,080 --> 00:06:18,680 Speaker 5: that I'm my own, my own person, And I mean 116 00:06:18,680 --> 00:06:21,000 Speaker 5: that's another reason why I love LA because you have 117 00:06:21,080 --> 00:06:24,160 Speaker 5: such a melting pot of culture and subculture and like 118 00:06:24,520 --> 00:06:27,960 Speaker 5: it's a really unique place and it's a different, i guess, 119 00:06:28,200 --> 00:06:29,719 Speaker 5: flavor than any other place. 120 00:06:29,760 --> 00:06:31,320 Speaker 6: Like you know, New York is different than here. 121 00:06:31,440 --> 00:06:33,960 Speaker 5: You know something about it here is it's it's just 122 00:06:33,960 --> 00:06:36,440 Speaker 5: a different energy. So I've always I've always loved that 123 00:06:36,440 --> 00:06:39,400 Speaker 5: because you know, I do run into Argentinians that were 124 00:06:39,440 --> 00:06:41,440 Speaker 5: born in Mexico like the same story as me, and 125 00:06:41,480 --> 00:06:43,359 Speaker 5: I'm like, oh cool, I'm not alone, you know, but 126 00:06:43,600 --> 00:06:48,040 Speaker 5: I feel, you know, not to diss my my Argentinian heritage, 127 00:06:48,080 --> 00:06:51,400 Speaker 5: but I do feel a deeper sense of connection to 128 00:06:51,800 --> 00:06:54,920 Speaker 5: Mexico because that's where I was born and it's the 129 00:06:54,960 --> 00:06:59,000 Speaker 5: people I'm the most around, and so I don't know, 130 00:06:59,040 --> 00:07:01,800 Speaker 5: it's a different energy that I just connect with a 131 00:07:01,800 --> 00:07:04,080 Speaker 5: little bit more. I mean, I think Argentina is very 132 00:07:05,040 --> 00:07:09,080 Speaker 5: European influenced, whereas I feel like with Mexico, it's more 133 00:07:09,600 --> 00:07:12,160 Speaker 5: I feel a deeper connection to like an indigenous heritage, 134 00:07:12,200 --> 00:07:13,160 Speaker 5: which is something that really. 135 00:07:13,040 --> 00:07:13,920 Speaker 6: Strikes the chord for me. 136 00:07:14,040 --> 00:07:16,400 Speaker 5: So but at the same time, you know, there's places 137 00:07:16,400 --> 00:07:18,600 Speaker 5: and my mom just went back to visit family and stuff, 138 00:07:18,600 --> 00:07:20,880 Speaker 5: and she she wanted to go see the penguins, you know, 139 00:07:20,920 --> 00:07:24,040 Speaker 5: and there's so much beautiful, rich indigenous culture there too. 140 00:07:24,120 --> 00:07:25,320 Speaker 6: That's being forgotten. 141 00:07:26,120 --> 00:07:28,920 Speaker 1: You were born in Monte Morellos, Mexico, and I'm like, 142 00:07:28,960 --> 00:07:30,880 Speaker 1: where is Monte more You know, I. 143 00:07:30,880 --> 00:07:34,240 Speaker 5: Usually tell people Monterre because that's like the nearest city. 144 00:07:34,440 --> 00:07:37,040 Speaker 5: It's in Boleon, and Monte Morellos is like a little 145 00:07:37,040 --> 00:07:39,160 Speaker 5: prio like southeast of it. 146 00:07:39,160 --> 00:07:40,679 Speaker 6: It was nice, I mean, it was very rural. 147 00:07:40,720 --> 00:07:44,120 Speaker 5: We were there because my my father was finishing all 148 00:07:44,160 --> 00:07:46,440 Speaker 5: his doctor stuff. He comes from a long line of 149 00:07:46,440 --> 00:07:51,200 Speaker 5: missionary doctors, so they go to places that need medical 150 00:07:51,240 --> 00:07:53,920 Speaker 5: assistants that don't have any. And so I remember my 151 00:07:53,960 --> 00:07:56,120 Speaker 5: dad always tells the story of driving through and seeing 152 00:07:56,600 --> 00:08:00,280 Speaker 5: this like rolling hills of just little little cruces, you know, 153 00:08:00,360 --> 00:08:03,080 Speaker 5: like all dead children, and he was like, what's happening here? 154 00:08:03,120 --> 00:08:05,720 Speaker 5: And it's like there was no medical attention given. So 155 00:08:06,120 --> 00:08:08,440 Speaker 5: my dad would go to these places and just basically 156 00:08:08,480 --> 00:08:11,760 Speaker 5: build clinics there, set them up, and then move on 157 00:08:11,840 --> 00:08:14,160 Speaker 5: to the next one, and you know, all for free. 158 00:08:14,480 --> 00:08:16,600 Speaker 5: And so that's how we were born in that little 159 00:08:16,680 --> 00:08:19,360 Speaker 5: tiny town, which I loved. I still look back and 160 00:08:19,400 --> 00:08:22,400 Speaker 5: think those were some of my happiest times because they 161 00:08:22,400 --> 00:08:23,080 Speaker 5: were quite simple. 162 00:08:23,160 --> 00:08:25,920 Speaker 6: You know, our floors were made out of packed dirt. 163 00:08:26,000 --> 00:08:26,160 Speaker 6: You know. 164 00:08:26,200 --> 00:08:28,400 Speaker 5: One of my favorite childhood photos of me is me 165 00:08:28,520 --> 00:08:31,360 Speaker 5: in a bucket, splashing around, just having the time of 166 00:08:31,400 --> 00:08:33,440 Speaker 5: my life. And that's because we literally had no running water. 167 00:08:34,360 --> 00:08:36,920 Speaker 1: You moved to LA when you're five, you had some 168 00:08:36,960 --> 00:08:37,760 Speaker 1: really rough times. 169 00:08:37,840 --> 00:08:39,200 Speaker 6: Oh yeah, what happened? 170 00:08:39,440 --> 00:08:42,160 Speaker 5: You know, what happened is that I just never felt 171 00:08:42,160 --> 00:08:44,600 Speaker 5: like I belonged, not even within my own family unit. 172 00:08:44,800 --> 00:08:44,960 Speaker 6: You know. 173 00:08:45,000 --> 00:08:47,400 Speaker 5: I was a straighter student and gifted and talented and 174 00:08:47,440 --> 00:08:52,360 Speaker 5: like all this other you know, excelling programs, and to them, 175 00:08:52,400 --> 00:08:54,520 Speaker 5: it was you know, they were really concerned with what 176 00:08:54,559 --> 00:08:57,960 Speaker 5: the church thought and what their friends thought of, you know, 177 00:08:58,000 --> 00:09:01,080 Speaker 5: our parents, my early teens that. 178 00:09:01,160 --> 00:09:02,440 Speaker 6: Discovered punk rock music. 179 00:09:03,760 --> 00:09:06,480 Speaker 5: You know, I saw these images of women on covers 180 00:09:06,600 --> 00:09:10,080 Speaker 5: of records that were shaved their heads and had mohawks, 181 00:09:10,080 --> 00:09:12,800 Speaker 5: and they just they were fighting for something and they 182 00:09:12,800 --> 00:09:14,960 Speaker 5: were fighting against the norm. And I was like, I 183 00:09:15,040 --> 00:09:18,079 Speaker 5: relate to this, you know, and so I responded deeply 184 00:09:18,160 --> 00:09:20,120 Speaker 5: with these outsiders. 185 00:09:20,640 --> 00:09:20,800 Speaker 6: You know. 186 00:09:20,880 --> 00:09:22,880 Speaker 5: Then I did the same thing. I shaved my head 187 00:09:22,920 --> 00:09:25,040 Speaker 5: and got a mohawk, and I was wearing black lipstick 188 00:09:25,080 --> 00:09:27,559 Speaker 5: and all this other stuff. And it terrified my parents. 189 00:09:28,760 --> 00:09:31,320 Speaker 5: They're not Americanized. They weren't Americanized at the time. You know, 190 00:09:31,320 --> 00:09:33,320 Speaker 5: they come from a different culture, a different place, and 191 00:09:33,960 --> 00:09:34,679 Speaker 5: very religious. 192 00:09:34,720 --> 00:09:37,199 Speaker 6: So like to them, it was like. 193 00:09:37,760 --> 00:09:40,480 Speaker 5: Are we losing our daughter to Satan basically, you know, 194 00:09:40,600 --> 00:09:44,240 Speaker 5: And it pushed me even further away, and so I 195 00:09:44,360 --> 00:09:46,200 Speaker 5: felt like I wasn't loved. 196 00:09:46,559 --> 00:09:49,160 Speaker 6: And I don't blame them. 197 00:09:49,400 --> 00:09:50,040 Speaker 2: The tattoos. 198 00:09:50,120 --> 00:09:52,040 Speaker 1: Uh, you said you got your first one when you 199 00:09:52,040 --> 00:09:55,320 Speaker 1: were thirteen fourteen, Yeah, so tell me what it was. 200 00:09:55,400 --> 00:09:56,400 Speaker 6: What was it? 201 00:09:56,600 --> 00:09:59,080 Speaker 2: And I did just have my eyebris Yeah, so that 202 00:09:59,200 --> 00:09:59,439 Speaker 2: is the. 203 00:09:59,440 --> 00:10:02,920 Speaker 1: Closest thing ever, Yeah, to understanding a little bit of 204 00:10:03,040 --> 00:10:04,199 Speaker 1: maybe what the pain is. 205 00:10:04,320 --> 00:10:06,240 Speaker 6: Yeah, maybe no, it's totally different. 206 00:10:07,000 --> 00:10:09,200 Speaker 5: But tell me then about But you know, when I 207 00:10:09,240 --> 00:10:11,520 Speaker 5: got my first tattoo was an old English j for 208 00:10:11,679 --> 00:10:13,080 Speaker 5: my first love ever. 209 00:10:13,160 --> 00:10:14,120 Speaker 6: His name was James. 210 00:10:14,440 --> 00:10:17,640 Speaker 5: I was fourteen, he was sixteen, and you know, we 211 00:10:18,000 --> 00:10:21,640 Speaker 5: ran away together and we had forbidden love, and like 212 00:10:21,679 --> 00:10:23,559 Speaker 5: from our parents were like, you know, you guys can't 213 00:10:23,640 --> 00:10:26,200 Speaker 5: date and he looks crazy and you you know. 214 00:10:26,559 --> 00:10:27,440 Speaker 6: They were just worried. 215 00:10:27,480 --> 00:10:28,760 Speaker 5: And so I was like, well, I don't want to 216 00:10:28,760 --> 00:10:32,000 Speaker 5: have to choose between my family and my love. But 217 00:10:32,080 --> 00:10:34,840 Speaker 5: I can't imagine, you know, when you're fourteen, You're just like, 218 00:10:35,360 --> 00:10:38,439 Speaker 5: this is it, you know, and we dad for three years, 219 00:10:38,480 --> 00:10:40,400 Speaker 5: you know, and we went on some amazing adventures. That 220 00:10:40,679 --> 00:10:43,240 Speaker 5: was probably one of the most pivotal times in my 221 00:10:43,440 --> 00:10:47,360 Speaker 5: teenage years because it's when I started tattooing. So it 222 00:10:47,400 --> 00:10:50,120 Speaker 5: was this sense of freedom, you know. I was like, oh, 223 00:10:50,200 --> 00:10:52,400 Speaker 5: I don't have to do this, I can do this 224 00:10:52,520 --> 00:10:53,240 Speaker 5: and that's okay. 225 00:10:53,360 --> 00:10:55,839 Speaker 6: And you know, then we eventually. 226 00:10:55,320 --> 00:10:58,200 Speaker 5: Broke up, and I would just tell people the jay 227 00:10:58,240 --> 00:11:03,960 Speaker 5: stands for just kidding, but no, when I look at 228 00:11:03,960 --> 00:11:06,320 Speaker 5: my old tattoos, I think fondly of the landmarks in time. 229 00:11:06,480 --> 00:11:08,839 Speaker 5: A lot of people have regrets, and for me, it's 230 00:11:08,880 --> 00:11:10,640 Speaker 5: more just like, okay, cool, like this is where I 231 00:11:10,679 --> 00:11:13,040 Speaker 5: was at back then. That's okay. You know, we just 232 00:11:13,720 --> 00:11:14,920 Speaker 5: move on and it's fine. 233 00:11:15,120 --> 00:11:19,400 Speaker 2: But explain to me the relationship of a tattooer for 234 00:11:19,559 --> 00:11:20,240 Speaker 2: you and PTE. 235 00:11:20,360 --> 00:11:22,160 Speaker 5: Yeah, for me, it's a lot different than I think 236 00:11:22,160 --> 00:11:24,840 Speaker 5: a lot of I can't speak for everybody, especially tattooers, 237 00:11:24,840 --> 00:11:27,400 Speaker 5: because I think tattooers have a very different perspective on 238 00:11:27,840 --> 00:11:32,520 Speaker 5: tattooing than I do. I'm an emotional, nostalgic type person, 239 00:11:32,679 --> 00:11:34,960 Speaker 5: sentimental in a lot of ways. So I like to 240 00:11:34,960 --> 00:11:38,000 Speaker 5: get things that mean something to me. So I remember 241 00:11:38,040 --> 00:11:40,600 Speaker 5: I had my mom tattooed me. This is actually an 242 00:11:40,640 --> 00:11:45,200 Speaker 5: interesting story because I went back to Monte Morellos for 243 00:11:45,240 --> 00:11:49,400 Speaker 5: the first time in twenty one years and I took 244 00:11:49,440 --> 00:11:52,320 Speaker 5: my mom with me, and I remember there was we 245 00:11:52,320 --> 00:11:54,160 Speaker 5: were at this big convention and there's all these fans 246 00:11:54,160 --> 00:11:56,040 Speaker 5: there and I was like, I had my tattoo machine there. 247 00:11:56,040 --> 00:11:58,160 Speaker 5: I was like, Mom, I want you to tattoo me 248 00:11:58,240 --> 00:12:02,120 Speaker 5: in front of everybody. My mom never she doesn't, you know, 249 00:12:02,200 --> 00:12:03,319 Speaker 5: she's not a tattooed person. 250 00:12:03,440 --> 00:12:04,000 Speaker 6: She was like what. 251 00:12:04,559 --> 00:12:07,160 Speaker 5: She put her little glasses on and she just did it. 252 00:12:07,280 --> 00:12:08,200 Speaker 5: She's like, what do you want to get? And I 253 00:12:08,200 --> 00:12:10,559 Speaker 5: was like, well, I always like thought it was the 254 00:12:10,600 --> 00:12:12,719 Speaker 5: cutest thing my mom when she got her first car 255 00:12:12,760 --> 00:12:16,800 Speaker 5: in America. Her license plates aola. It's an Argentinian term, like, 256 00:12:16,840 --> 00:12:19,040 Speaker 5: you know, like really cool chiic or whatever. And so 257 00:12:19,200 --> 00:12:21,600 Speaker 5: I was like, Mom, why don't you tattoo repola on me? 258 00:12:21,640 --> 00:12:23,480 Speaker 5: And so she was like okay, And so it looks like, 259 00:12:23,520 --> 00:12:26,000 Speaker 5: you know, are a drunk three year old did it? 260 00:12:25,880 --> 00:12:27,600 Speaker 6: It looks? But I love it. To me. 261 00:12:27,679 --> 00:12:30,120 Speaker 5: It's one of the most special tattoos is a special moment, 262 00:12:30,200 --> 00:12:32,400 Speaker 5: making a full circle of my life and then celebrating 263 00:12:32,440 --> 00:12:36,560 Speaker 5: it with my mother, and it was I don't know, 264 00:12:36,600 --> 00:12:39,120 Speaker 5: I like that kind of stuff. I love that kind 265 00:12:39,160 --> 00:12:42,360 Speaker 5: of stuff. It's not about the even about the art itself. 266 00:12:42,800 --> 00:12:44,920 Speaker 5: It's more about the moment or the landmark in time. 267 00:12:48,720 --> 00:12:52,600 Speaker 1: Coming up on Latino, USA, I continue my conversation with 268 00:12:52,760 --> 00:13:43,959 Speaker 1: Kat Vandy. Stay with us. Hey, we're back and today 269 00:13:44,000 --> 00:13:47,840 Speaker 1: we're spending time with goth Icon tattoo artists and musician 270 00:13:48,040 --> 00:13:51,839 Speaker 1: Cat Vondie. Kat was twenty two and living a punk 271 00:13:51,960 --> 00:13:56,280 Speaker 1: rock lifestyle, partying, traveling, tattooing when a friend asked her 272 00:13:56,320 --> 00:13:58,480 Speaker 1: if she'd be interested in being on a new reality 273 00:13:58,520 --> 00:13:59,840 Speaker 1: TV show Miami. 274 00:14:01,040 --> 00:14:06,280 Speaker 5: At the time, the show was a completely male casted show. 275 00:14:06,440 --> 00:14:08,920 Speaker 5: There was no females on it. I really didn't have 276 00:14:08,960 --> 00:14:10,720 Speaker 5: any interest in being on the show, but I was like, 277 00:14:10,760 --> 00:14:13,280 Speaker 5: you know, I would hate it for the network to 278 00:14:13,360 --> 00:14:15,920 Speaker 5: hire a female artist based on her looks, because that's 279 00:14:16,000 --> 00:14:16,760 Speaker 5: usually what they do. 280 00:14:16,960 --> 00:14:18,679 Speaker 6: You know, if you're hot, they don't care if you're 281 00:14:18,720 --> 00:14:19,600 Speaker 6: good or not. You know. 282 00:14:20,080 --> 00:14:23,120 Speaker 1: So in two thousand and five, can't join the show 283 00:14:23,240 --> 00:14:26,640 Speaker 1: and due to her booming popularity. She became the face 284 00:14:26,720 --> 00:14:27,960 Speaker 1: of women tattooers. 285 00:14:28,400 --> 00:14:29,680 Speaker 5: Do you want to draw something up for you and 286 00:14:29,680 --> 00:14:30,720 Speaker 5: then I'll show it to you and tell me what 287 00:14:30,760 --> 00:14:31,000 Speaker 5: we think. 288 00:14:31,080 --> 00:14:32,280 Speaker 6: I think we could take it from there. 289 00:14:32,520 --> 00:14:35,360 Speaker 1: Cat's rise to fame in the mid odds coincided with 290 00:14:35,400 --> 00:14:39,320 Speaker 1: the mainstreaming of tattoo culture. The reality show franchise she 291 00:14:39,400 --> 00:14:42,120 Speaker 1: was a part of, ink Master, brought the world of 292 00:14:42,160 --> 00:14:46,240 Speaker 1: tattooing from local shops into living rooms across America. 293 00:14:46,480 --> 00:14:47,280 Speaker 6: We have seen the. 294 00:14:47,280 --> 00:14:50,840 Speaker 5: Nation's top tattooers battle for the title of ink Master. 295 00:14:51,680 --> 00:14:54,840 Speaker 1: But tattoo shops weren't the only kind of business getting 296 00:14:54,880 --> 00:14:59,080 Speaker 1: the reality show treatment. There was American chopper said in 297 00:14:59,120 --> 00:15:00,640 Speaker 1: a motorcycle, it. 298 00:15:00,600 --> 00:15:03,240 Speaker 2: Says, need to be here at seven o'clock next day, 299 00:15:03,800 --> 00:15:06,960 Speaker 2: seven forty You come in bikini barbershop, set in a 300 00:15:07,000 --> 00:15:08,920 Speaker 2: hair salade, little last, I'm. 301 00:15:11,760 --> 00:15:13,120 Speaker 6: Head off an. 302 00:15:13,080 --> 00:15:16,480 Speaker 1: Even lizard licked towing set in a towing company. 303 00:15:16,520 --> 00:15:18,480 Speaker 5: I'm here to pick up my car and pick up 304 00:15:18,520 --> 00:15:20,560 Speaker 5: my fur coat that was taken from in this morning. 305 00:15:20,720 --> 00:15:21,920 Speaker 5: It was a merceading band. 306 00:15:21,960 --> 00:15:23,000 Speaker 6: We need her coat back. 307 00:15:22,880 --> 00:15:23,720 Speaker 5: We need it back now. 308 00:15:24,040 --> 00:15:28,280 Speaker 1: A very specific kind of celebrity was proliferating the American 309 00:15:28,600 --> 00:15:30,240 Speaker 1: entrepreneur reality star. 310 00:15:30,600 --> 00:15:31,080 Speaker 6: You're fired. 311 00:15:34,120 --> 00:15:37,800 Speaker 1: Central to maintaining relevance in this space is not just 312 00:15:37,920 --> 00:15:41,640 Speaker 1: hard work and talent, but also scandal something. Cat von 313 00:15:41,720 --> 00:15:44,400 Speaker 1: Die and many in her circle are no strangers too. 314 00:15:45,560 --> 00:15:48,840 Speaker 1: In twenty ten, she was briefly engaged to biker and 315 00:15:48,920 --> 00:15:53,200 Speaker 1: reality star Jesse James. That year, photos of James wearing 316 00:15:53,280 --> 00:15:56,440 Speaker 1: Nazi regalia and doing the Nazi salute were leaked. 317 00:15:56,760 --> 00:16:01,200 Speaker 4: That old Jesse James Nazi picture was just a bit misunderstanding. 318 00:16:01,520 --> 00:16:04,640 Speaker 2: It was a joke that was funny then probably for 319 00:16:04,720 --> 00:16:05,400 Speaker 2: a minute. 320 00:16:05,560 --> 00:16:08,320 Speaker 1: And from two thousand and three to two thousand and seven, 321 00:16:08,840 --> 00:16:12,560 Speaker 1: Kat was married to fellow tattoo artist Oliver Peck. Peck 322 00:16:12,640 --> 00:16:15,240 Speaker 1: went on to become a judge on ink Master, but 323 00:16:15,480 --> 00:16:18,840 Speaker 1: recently he was let go after past photos of him 324 00:16:18,880 --> 00:16:22,640 Speaker 1: in blackface were leaked. I want to understand how Kat 325 00:16:22,680 --> 00:16:27,520 Speaker 1: feels about these past tumultuous relationships and how they fit 326 00:16:27,600 --> 00:16:34,040 Speaker 1: in with her experience of growing into herself. And just 327 00:16:34,080 --> 00:16:37,240 Speaker 1: a warning that this part of the conversation contains language 328 00:16:37,440 --> 00:16:40,880 Speaker 1: some might find offensive. So I want to ask you 329 00:16:40,960 --> 00:16:45,160 Speaker 1: about something back to the relationships. So your first husband, 330 00:16:45,160 --> 00:16:49,000 Speaker 1: Oliver Peck, you've been divorced for over a decade. Recently, 331 00:16:49,360 --> 00:16:51,960 Speaker 1: it turned out just in January that he was kicked 332 00:16:52,000 --> 00:16:55,040 Speaker 1: off of ink Master because these photos of him in 333 00:16:55,080 --> 00:16:58,040 Speaker 1: blackface appeared. And I'm just wondering, like, when you were 334 00:16:58,080 --> 00:17:01,080 Speaker 1: with him, we've talked a lot about identity, Like how 335 00:17:01,080 --> 00:17:03,040 Speaker 1: did that come up in a relationship? 336 00:17:03,080 --> 00:17:05,719 Speaker 5: I definitely, I mean, I don't mind talking about stuff. 337 00:17:05,920 --> 00:17:08,600 Speaker 5: You know, I have nothing nice to say about that person. 338 00:17:08,800 --> 00:17:11,000 Speaker 5: So it's you know, when you don't have anything nice 339 00:17:11,000 --> 00:17:12,800 Speaker 5: to say, better not say anything at all, you know. 340 00:17:13,600 --> 00:17:16,639 Speaker 5: You know, I got married completely wasted when I was 341 00:17:16,760 --> 00:17:19,840 Speaker 5: in my twenties to a person that I had met 342 00:17:19,880 --> 00:17:20,399 Speaker 5: that week. 343 00:17:20,800 --> 00:17:23,159 Speaker 6: I didn't know him at all. You know. 344 00:17:23,400 --> 00:17:28,320 Speaker 5: The next day when I came to consciousness, I felt like, 345 00:17:29,200 --> 00:17:31,520 Speaker 5: you know, maybe because my parents had instilled this idea 346 00:17:31,560 --> 00:17:33,480 Speaker 5: of like divorce is not an option, you know, like 347 00:17:33,680 --> 00:17:36,239 Speaker 5: within the church, it's not okay, and so I just, 348 00:17:36,880 --> 00:17:39,680 Speaker 5: you know, kind of brainwashed, went forward with continuing to 349 00:17:39,720 --> 00:17:42,920 Speaker 5: be married for as long as I possibly could before realizing, oh, 350 00:17:43,000 --> 00:17:46,560 Speaker 5: this is the most toxic, awful decision I've ever made. 351 00:17:46,720 --> 00:17:48,840 Speaker 5: And then I, you know, I got a divorce, which 352 00:17:48,920 --> 00:17:53,120 Speaker 5: was really it was such an ugly just terrible experience. 353 00:17:53,600 --> 00:17:56,399 Speaker 5: You know, that was back when I was deeply in 354 00:17:56,480 --> 00:18:00,760 Speaker 5: my drinking and drug abuse days, and it wasn't until 355 00:18:00,800 --> 00:18:04,080 Speaker 5: I got divorced, and that it was maybe that next 356 00:18:04,160 --> 00:18:07,440 Speaker 5: year that I got sober. Actually, so I don't really 357 00:18:07,480 --> 00:18:09,359 Speaker 5: have anything to say about him because don't I don't 358 00:18:09,440 --> 00:18:11,040 Speaker 5: follow him or do it or anything. 359 00:18:11,400 --> 00:18:15,080 Speaker 1: It's more like when I think about because when I 360 00:18:15,080 --> 00:18:17,720 Speaker 1: think about you as the way you move in the world, 361 00:18:17,880 --> 00:18:20,520 Speaker 1: so clear about your identity, and then I think about 362 00:18:20,680 --> 00:18:25,120 Speaker 1: like him or even Jesse James, who have kind of 363 00:18:25,240 --> 00:18:30,800 Speaker 1: the issue of Nazi white supremacy that and I'm trying 364 00:18:30,800 --> 00:18:32,800 Speaker 1: to put those That's what I'm trying to understand. 365 00:18:32,840 --> 00:18:35,000 Speaker 5: Well, yeah, I mean, you know, I mean I don't 366 00:18:35,000 --> 00:18:37,520 Speaker 5: mind talking about all those rumors because I've been having 367 00:18:37,520 --> 00:18:39,119 Speaker 5: to deal with them for so long. You know, I 368 00:18:39,119 --> 00:18:42,639 Speaker 5: think there's rumors that people think I'm a Nazi or 369 00:18:42,680 --> 00:18:45,800 Speaker 5: associated with Nazism in any way, and you know, I 370 00:18:45,800 --> 00:18:49,640 Speaker 5: can understand where the rumors come from. So basically, back 371 00:18:49,640 --> 00:18:52,080 Speaker 5: in the day when I got onto Miami Inc. I 372 00:18:52,119 --> 00:18:54,560 Speaker 5: was twenty two years old and I really didn't know 373 00:18:54,600 --> 00:18:57,120 Speaker 5: what I was getting myself into, and so the ratings 374 00:18:57,119 --> 00:19:00,640 Speaker 5: came back and people loved me, and the publicists were like, hey, 375 00:19:00,640 --> 00:19:05,040 Speaker 5: we need to give you more airtime, and eventually that 376 00:19:05,160 --> 00:19:07,640 Speaker 5: led to my own spin off show. 377 00:19:08,200 --> 00:19:11,440 Speaker 1: But as the production process began for Cat's own show, 378 00:19:11,720 --> 00:19:15,639 Speaker 1: LA Inc. Tensions arose with the Miami Inc. Crew. 379 00:19:16,040 --> 00:19:17,200 Speaker 6: One of the cast members. 380 00:19:17,440 --> 00:19:20,040 Speaker 5: I think he just felt threatened and so at that 381 00:19:20,200 --> 00:19:23,440 Speaker 5: very beginning stage of filming LA Inc. This cast member 382 00:19:23,520 --> 00:19:28,199 Speaker 5: decided to try and sabotage the process and released an 383 00:19:28,280 --> 00:19:30,760 Speaker 5: eight by ten. It was a photo of me, and 384 00:19:30,840 --> 00:19:33,479 Speaker 5: he wrote some anti semitic things on it. 385 00:19:33,800 --> 00:19:36,600 Speaker 1: The eight by ten was an autograph photo of Kat 386 00:19:36,800 --> 00:19:40,320 Speaker 1: that was supposedly addressed to her former boss Amy James. 387 00:19:40,720 --> 00:19:42,879 Speaker 2: It read ernion hell juwbang. 388 00:19:43,280 --> 00:19:46,280 Speaker 5: And he went to the network and said, Hey, if 389 00:19:46,320 --> 00:19:50,120 Speaker 5: you don't cancel Katvandi's show, I'm going to go public 390 00:19:50,200 --> 00:19:53,760 Speaker 5: with this eight by ten. And this was obviously forged, 391 00:19:54,119 --> 00:19:55,840 Speaker 5: and so we you know, because if it wasn't, I 392 00:19:55,880 --> 00:19:59,720 Speaker 5: would have gotten canceled. It's still, you know, it comes 393 00:19:59,800 --> 00:20:02,560 Speaker 5: up Google searches, and it comes up in interviews. And 394 00:20:02,880 --> 00:20:04,639 Speaker 5: I always think, now that I have a son, like 395 00:20:04,680 --> 00:20:06,840 Speaker 5: you know, eventually I'm gonna have to sit down and 396 00:20:06,880 --> 00:20:09,320 Speaker 5: talk to him and tell him the truth of things 397 00:20:09,359 --> 00:20:12,240 Speaker 5: before he reads it or he hears it through somebody else, 398 00:20:12,280 --> 00:20:14,320 Speaker 5: because you know, so those are things that are so 399 00:20:14,520 --> 00:20:16,879 Speaker 5: out of line with you know, how I feel in 400 00:20:16,920 --> 00:20:18,119 Speaker 5: my perspective on the world. 401 00:20:18,520 --> 00:20:19,280 Speaker 6: What I would like to. 402 00:20:19,200 --> 00:20:21,520 Speaker 5: Say is, obviously, I am not a Nazi. I'm not 403 00:20:21,560 --> 00:20:24,760 Speaker 5: a Nazi sympathizer. I'm not a white supremacist. I'm not 404 00:20:25,240 --> 00:20:26,159 Speaker 5: any of those things. 405 00:20:27,320 --> 00:20:30,919 Speaker 1: What's it like to be a Latina artist in the 406 00:20:31,000 --> 00:20:35,320 Speaker 1: year twenty twenty when, frankly, being Latino, being Mexican, being immigrant, 407 00:20:35,960 --> 00:20:38,240 Speaker 1: it's a particular challenge right now. 408 00:20:38,800 --> 00:20:39,959 Speaker 6: I love it. I embrace it. 409 00:20:40,040 --> 00:20:43,119 Speaker 5: I think it's you know, this is our opportunity to 410 00:20:43,119 --> 00:20:45,560 Speaker 5: put something positive on the map. But you know, I 411 00:20:45,560 --> 00:20:47,280 Speaker 5: hope that I'll be able to write some music and 412 00:20:47,320 --> 00:20:50,080 Speaker 5: talk about the things that are important about the environmental issues, 413 00:20:50,119 --> 00:20:52,719 Speaker 5: about animal rights and about you know, immigrant rights, and 414 00:20:53,200 --> 00:20:57,560 Speaker 5: I feel like I think it's empowering. You know, I'm 415 00:20:57,600 --> 00:21:00,560 Speaker 5: not I'm not scared of that adversity. I think that 416 00:21:00,560 --> 00:21:03,320 Speaker 5: that's something we should all be excited to stand up 417 00:21:03,359 --> 00:21:04,920 Speaker 5: for right now. 418 00:21:05,080 --> 00:21:06,119 Speaker 6: Especially. 419 00:21:09,000 --> 00:21:09,400 Speaker 2: Kat. 420 00:21:09,480 --> 00:21:11,840 Speaker 1: It has been so wonderful to speak with you. Thank 421 00:21:11,880 --> 00:21:12,840 Speaker 1: you so much for joining me. 422 00:21:13,040 --> 00:21:15,320 Speaker 6: Oh Man, that the honor of pleasure. That's one hundred 423 00:21:15,320 --> 00:21:16,239 Speaker 6: percent mind. Thank you. 424 00:21:21,480 --> 00:21:24,159 Speaker 1: Before we left, we got the opportunity to meet the 425 00:21:24,200 --> 00:21:34,679 Speaker 1: mini Prince of Darkness, Kat's son, Leapharr. Leapharr had on 426 00:21:34,760 --> 00:21:39,480 Speaker 1: a onesie with a skeleton print on it. Lea f 427 00:21:39,560 --> 00:21:41,679 Speaker 1: r kept reaching towards the microphone. 428 00:21:42,200 --> 00:21:42,720 Speaker 6: Just give me that. 429 00:21:43,280 --> 00:21:47,640 Speaker 2: I think we know what you want to do. 430 00:21:46,040 --> 00:21:51,200 Speaker 1: That it's with her son and her husband that Kat 431 00:21:51,200 --> 00:21:55,520 Speaker 1: feels most understood. She's really proud of the goth world 432 00:21:55,560 --> 00:21:57,320 Speaker 1: her family has built for themselves. 433 00:21:59,160 --> 00:22:00,879 Speaker 6: It's not always happy around here, you know. 434 00:22:00,920 --> 00:22:03,199 Speaker 5: I got so much backlash this last few years and 435 00:22:03,240 --> 00:22:04,080 Speaker 5: stuff that was. 436 00:22:04,040 --> 00:22:05,600 Speaker 6: A really big challenge. 437 00:22:06,200 --> 00:22:08,000 Speaker 5: But at the end of the day, like you know, 438 00:22:08,040 --> 00:22:11,720 Speaker 5: when I'm when I get quiet, not allowing that to 439 00:22:11,720 --> 00:22:14,760 Speaker 5: to outshine all the beauty that was happening in our house, 440 00:22:14,880 --> 00:22:15,040 Speaker 5: you know. 441 00:22:32,240 --> 00:22:35,760 Speaker 1: This episode was produced by Antonia Selehido and edited by 442 00:22:35,880 --> 00:22:39,680 Speaker 1: Sofia Palissa Ka and Luis Reyes. The Latino USA team 443 00:22:39,720 --> 00:22:45,360 Speaker 1: include Miss Jane mca Ueta, Martinelli, Gilli Montalbo, Alisa Carcim 444 00:22:45,480 --> 00:22:49,359 Speaker 1: and Alexandra Salasad with Hope from Raul Prees. Our engineers 445 00:22:49,440 --> 00:22:53,400 Speaker 1: are Stephanie Lebau and Julia Caruso. Additional engineering this week 446 00:22:53,480 --> 00:22:56,439 Speaker 1: by Lea Shaw. Our director of Programming and Operations is 447 00:22:56,560 --> 00:23:00,680 Speaker 1: Natalia fidel Hut. Our digital editor is Amandel Cante. Our 448 00:23:00,720 --> 00:23:04,440 Speaker 1: New York Women's Foundation Ignite Fellow is Julia Roja. Our 449 00:23:04,440 --> 00:23:08,119 Speaker 1: interns are Sofia Sanchez and Marie Mendosa. Our theme music 450 00:23:08,280 --> 00:23:10,119 Speaker 1: was composed by zang Errinos. 451 00:23:10,440 --> 00:23:11,760 Speaker 2: If you like the music you heard on. 452 00:23:11,680 --> 00:23:15,360 Speaker 1: This episode, stop by Latinousa dot org and check out 453 00:23:15,400 --> 00:23:18,800 Speaker 1: our weekly Spotify playlist. I'm your host and executive producer 454 00:23:18,840 --> 00:23:21,560 Speaker 1: Marino Rosa. Join us again on our next episode, and 455 00:23:21,600 --> 00:23:23,560 Speaker 1: in the meantime, you can find us on all of 456 00:23:23,560 --> 00:23:24,359 Speaker 1: your social media. 457 00:23:24,680 --> 00:23:26,840 Speaker 2: Remember stay safe. Joo. 458 00:23:27,680 --> 00:23:32,520 Speaker 4: Latino USA is made possible in part by Carnegie Corporation, 459 00:23:33,080 --> 00:23:38,160 Speaker 4: promoting the advancement and diffusion of knowledge and understanding, New 460 00:23:38,240 --> 00:23:42,720 Speaker 4: York Women's Foundation, the New York Women's Foundation, funding women 461 00:23:42,800 --> 00:23:46,840 Speaker 4: leaders that build solutions in their communities and celebrating thirty 462 00:23:46,920 --> 00:23:51,360 Speaker 4: years of radical generosity, and the wind Coat Foundation. 463 00:23:55,320 --> 00:23:59,280 Speaker 2: Okay, this is like really delicious on my toast. 464 00:23:59,359 --> 00:24:02,640 Speaker 6: I know what is this cat? It's just a carpet